Published: October 18, 2008 01:10 am      

Fort Hill over Douglass

Lashley, Lee score TDs in 14-12 win

CUMBERLAND — The Fort Hill Sentinels capitalized on Frederick Douglass mistakes and turned in perhaps their best defensive performance of the season in a 14-12 victory on Friday night at Greenway Avenue Stadium.

Fullback Marcus Lashley blasted eight yards and back-up quarterback Devin Lee hurdled himself over a would-be tackler on a two-yard scoring play for the Fort Hill touchdowns. Eric Howser passed to Andy Broadwater for the decisive two-point conversion.

Marcus Alexander scored the Douglass touchdowns on runs of four and five yards. The Eagles outgained Fort Hill in total yards 292 to 199 but fell victim to a bad snap on a punt and a lost fumble deep in their own territory.

The big defensive stop came on a Douglass two-point conversion attempt when Jordan Helmick and Devin Lee stepped up to stuff quarterback Richard Barber as he was attempting to reach the end zone with a sweep to the right. That kept the Sentinels on top 14-12.

Also turning in some big defensive plays for Fort Hill were linebackers Garrett Dolly and Dakota Welsh, and lineman Colton Sibley and Matt Riggleman, who had a fumble recovery to set up the second touchdown. Mike Durr had an interception to end the game.

The victory lifts Fort Hill’s record to 4-1 and keeps the Sentinels right in the thick of the Maryland Class 1A West Region race as they can pick up a lot of points from the Class 2A Eagles. Douglass, ranked No. 25 in this week’s MDVarsity.com state poll, slips to 5-2, but is looking to return to the state playoffs.

“That’s definitely the best football team we played so far this season and the best-coached team,” said Fort Hill coach Todd Appel. “Our kids played tremendously against a great team. We hadn’t played against a team as physical as that. I think they win the rest of their games and get to the Class 2A playoffs.

“When they drove they ball down our throats in the second quarter I thought we were playing a team beating us at our own game,” added Appel. “I knew we had to take some risks on fourth downs to keep their offense off the field.”

Fort Hill got its first major break when a Douglass snap sailed over punter Mauco Bradley’s head and gave the Sentinels the ball at the Eagles 45-yard line.

Howser hit Lee for a 13-yard gain and the Sentinels used eight straight running plays to reach the end zone on Lashley’s eight-yard run with 2:10 left in the first quarter. Lashley kick was then wide.

Cambridge got its option offense running in the second quarter and marched 86 yards on 14 plays after a Fort Hill punt with Alexander going the four yards for the touchdown with 3:40 on the clock in the second quarter. A run for the two points failed.

A big key to the Fort Hill win was being able to stop Douglass on the first possession of the second half. After the teams traded punts, Riggleman picked up a fumble by Barber and returned the ball 10 yards to the Eagles’ 19-yard line.

Lashley, who finished with 55 yards on 18 carries, gained nine yards on three straight runs. Lee then got outside for five yards on a quarterback keeper for a first down at the five. After a three-yard run by Lashley, Lee did his hurdle for the touchdown with 4:15 left in the third quarter. The Sentinels then lined up to kick, but Howser, the holder, stepped up and found Broadwater open for the two points.

The Eagles went 92 yards on just seven plays for their chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Barber, who rushed for 90 yards on 13 carries, broke loose on a 35-yard run and Emmanuel Paul followed with a 25-yard spring to the Fort Hill 33. Alexander scored his second touchdown with a five-yard run with 7:02 left on the clock.

After stopping the two-point attempt, Fort Hill took over six minutes off the clock. Howser had a 15-yard touchdown run nullified by a penalty and the Sentinels turned the ball over on downs at the 11. Durr then got his interception.

“We had quite a few self-inflicted wounds,” said Douglass coach J.C. Pinkney. “They played well. Their players beat our players and their coaches beat our coaches. We had our opportunities.”

Fort Hill plays at Northern next Friday night.

Contact Steve Luse at sluse@times-news.com.